Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:

Filled with waters made cold by ice, they are where the snow goes to hide.

Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

Travelers from Tema search intently; caravans from Sheba hope to find them.

They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

“Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream,
You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].

Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

“Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice;
Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end {without hope}.

Remember Thou that my life is a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.

Nor shall see me - the eye that used to behold me, Thine eyes, are upon me, and I am not.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

"In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help to carry my complaint,

Then you send dreams to me, and visions of fear;

So that a hard death seems better to my soul than my pains.

I have wasted away -- not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days are vanity.

What is man, that You think so highly of him
and pay so much attention to him?

You inspect him every morning,
and put him to the test every moment.

Why won't you look away from me? Why don't you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!

Since your children sinned against Him,
He gave them over to their rebellion.

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If you are clean and upright; then he will certainly be moved to take up your cause, and will make clear your righteousness by building up your house again.

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

for we [are of] yesterday, and we do not know, for our days on earth [are] a shadow.

Do they not shew thee -- speak to thee, And from their heart bring forth words?

Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
Do reeds flourish without water?

While they are still green and not yet ready to be harvested, they wither before any plant.

So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

“He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.

Its roots weave around a pile of stones, seeking to entrench itself among the rocks.

“Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].

Surely God won't reject those who are blameless or hold hands with those who practice evil.

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?

If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

"[He is the one] who moves mountains, and they do not know [how], who overturns them in his anger.

Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.

Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.

Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.

“Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back?
Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, --

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

"I [am] blameless; I do not care about myself; I loathe my life.

It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.

If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.

“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice].
If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

"And my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they do not see good.

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

If I were to say, "Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,

I am afraid of all my pains and worries [yet to come];
I know that You will not acquit me and leave me unpunished.

I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

You would still plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would hate me [and refuse to cover my foul body].

"For [he is] not a mortal like me [that] I can answer him, [that] {we can come to trial together}.

There is no one to judge between us,
to lay his hand on both of us.

I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.

My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Doth it please thee to oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

‘Do You have eyes of flesh?
Do You see as a man sees?

Though you see that I am not an evil-doer; and there is no one who is able to take a man out of your hands?

Your hands made me, and I was formed by you, but then, changing your purpose, you gave me up to destruction.

Please remember that You formed me like clay.
Will You now return me to dust?

Haven't you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

You have been kind to me, and your grace has been with me, and your care has kept my spirit safe.

If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity.

If I have done wickedly -- woe to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction,

If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.

""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me!

Why then did you make me come out of my mother's body? It would have been better for me to have taken my last breath, and for no eye to have seen me,

I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

Aren't my days few? Cease then. Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,

Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

to [the] land of darkness, like [the] darkness of a deep shadow and {chaos}, so that it shines forth like darkness.'"

Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

"Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

Should your loose talk put people to silence? {And when you mock, shall no one put you to shame}?

But, {O that} God might speak, and [that] he would open his lips to you,

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?